Bleacher back



Dec. 11, 1951 WEBBER 2,578,114

BLEACHER BACK Filed Aug. 16, 1950 48 Fig.

1/ 32 X 3&3; I Fred C. Webber 52 32 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE BLEACHE'R BACK Fred C.'Webber, Portland, Maine Application August 16, 1950, Serial No. 179,770

I (Cl. 155-133) 2 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a bleacher back andmore specifically pertains to a back attachment for seats which may be selectively moved vertically into a raised and operative position or lowered into an inoperative position.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an attachment for horizontal seats which shall be capable of elevation to form a back rest therefor and may be lowered into an inoperative position as desired.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved back rest for seats in which the back rest shall have a vertically guided movement together with means for limiting the up ward movement and preventing disengagement of the back rest from a mounting bracket secured to the seat.

Astill further object of the invention is to provide a back attachment in conformity with the foregoing objects in which provision is made for effectively but releasably locking the back rest in its raised positon and for reinforcing and bracing the same in such position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved back rest specifically adapted for use as an attachment for any conventional form of horizontal seat and wherein a back rest is vertically'slidable in a mounting bracket together with means for guiding and limiting the sliding movement, accompanied by novel and improved means for selectively locking the back rest in its elevated or raised position.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view showing one suitable embodiment of back rest incorporating therein the principle of this invention and illustrated in full lines in its elevated or operative position upon a horizontal seat; and illustrated in dotted lines in the inoperative or lowered position of the back rest;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the seat showing the mounting bracket applied thereto, the back rest being omitted therefrom; and

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals 2 r designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the improved attachment constituting a back rest attachment is indicated generally by the numeral H) and is shown applied to a conventional form of horizontal seat l2 which may conveniently comprise a bleacher seat or any other similar member.

The present invention constitutes an attachment which is specifically applicable in a-detachable manner to horizontal seats l2, and preferably to the vertical, rear edges M of the same. The attachment comprises a metallic bracket I6 of any desired character which is adapted to be secured as by a plurality of screws or the like 18 to the back vertical surface M of the seat. This bracket comprises a pair of laterally extending guide lugs 20 which are provided with vertical guide bores 22 therein. The bracket further includes a plurality of lateral projections 24 having recesses, bores or sockets 25 therein which are hereinafter referred to as locking recesses. These recesses could comprise passages or bores which extend entirely through the lugs24 and whose axes are in parallel relation to the 'axes of the guide bores 22; or if desired could merely comprise depressions or recesses in'the upper surface ofthe lugs 24.

The back rest includes a frame which may conveniently comprise a rod-like member 113V. ing parallel legs 28 comprising vertical standards which are slidably received in the bores 22 of the projections 20, the upper ends of these legs being integrally connected as by a top bar 35 which may be appropriately curved to comfortably fit the contour of the back of a person using the back rest.

The lower ends of the standards 28, are provided with horizontally disposed portions 32 which are adapted to underlie the lower surface of the seat I2 and constitute stop means engageable with this lower surface to limit upward vertical movement of the standards 23 and prevent their withdrawal from the supporting bracket.

The back rest further comprises a back panel which may conveniently comp-rise a plurality of flat straps or bars 3t, 3t and 38 to which are rigidly attached crossbar-s 49, 42, 44 and 46 which thus impart rigidity to the panel. At their upper ends, the straps 34, 36 and 38 are provided with flanges 48 which are adapted to engage and partially embrace the lower or undersurface of the top bar 30 and which are welded or otherwise i rigidly attached to the same.

At their lower ends, the straps 34, 36 and 38 are provided with horizontally extending flanges 56 which rest upon and are rigidly attached to a lower crossbar 52. 7

Depending from the bottom surface of the lower crossbar 52, are a plurality of locking projections 54 in the form of pins or the like, which are positioned and proportioned to be detachably received in the above mentioned locking recesses 26 in the lugs 24.

As will be apparent, the back panel is supported solely from and depends from the top bar 30 of the frame of the back rest and preferably is provided with sufficient resiliency to permit a lateral deflection of the lower end of the back panel so that the same may be selectively positioned with its locking projections 54 in or out of registry with the locking recesses 26.

The dimensions of the device may be chosen in accordance with the particular preference of the manufacturer and in accordance with the uses to which the device is to be placed; but preferably are such that the back rest may be raised so that the stop members 32 may abut against the undersurface of the seat 12, at which time the locking projections 54 will be raised from engagement with the locking recesses in the bracket, whereupon the lower end of the panel may be pushed laterally backwards and the entire device then moved downwardly by sliding the standards 28 through their guide bores 22. The device may thus be moved from the full line position shown in Figure 1 to the lowered or dotted line position of the same, whereby substantially the entire top surface of the seat 12 will be unobstructed.

' In raising the device to the operative position, it will be evident that the standards are raised to their fullest extent, and then lowered until the locking projections engage the locking recesses.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A back attachment for seats comprising a bracket mounted on the back edge of a horizontal seat, a back rest slidably mounted on said bracket for selective vertical movement into raised operative position and lowered inoperative position, said bracket having vertical guides, said back rest having standards slidably mounted in said guides, said bracket having locking recesses, said back rest having locking lugs engageable in said locking recesses to brace and retain said back rest in its operative position, said back rest including a U-shaped frame whereof said standards comprise the legs, a top bar connecting the upper ends of said standards, a back panel depending from said top bar, said locking lugs being mounted upon the lower end of said panel.

2. A back attachment for seats comprising a bracket mounted on the back edge of a horizontal seat, a back rest slidably mounted on said bracket for selective vertical movement into raised operative position and lowered inoperative position, said bracket having vertical guides, said back rest having standards slidably mounted in said guides, said bracket having looking recesses, said back rest having locking lugs engageable in said locking recesses to brace and retain said back rest in its operative position, said back rest including a U-shaped frame whereof said standards comprise the legs, a top bar connecting the upper ends of said standards, a back panel depending from said top bar, said locking lugs being mounted upon the lower end of said panel, said back panel being fixedly secured to said top bar, said back panel having sufiicient flexibility for laterally moving said lugs into and out of alignment with said recesses.

FRED C. WEBBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 570,208 Harry Oct. 27, 1896 735,313 Stubbs Aug. 4, 1903 818,293 Rich Apr. 1'7, 1906 2,021,242 Reyniers Nov. 19, 1935 

